Okay, so i was driving down Dunearn Road in the middle lane earlier this week and this branch fell on the bonnet of my car. It must have been a reasonably dead branch because it virtually exploded on impact.

Some bits went bouncing across the bonnet, some against the windscreen and some off the roof over the back of the car.

I've now got quite a nice collection of scratches and dents on the bonnet and one dent on the edge of the roof......you know the kind of dent that you get on car doors when they're dinged? That kind.

I wrote to the LTA to see what recourse I can have in getting compensation for the repair but I doubt i'll hear anything. Any ideas if this is just something i'll have to bear myself? I mean the tree itself might not be 100% healthy if there are dead branches dropping off so it could be the maintenance isn't being done properly.

Otherwise I'm just going to take a chainsaw and cut the mother down.

'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

Well, as it was heavy raining that morning, i stopped and brush off the leaves and branches off my car, and moved off, (was going to do a job that morning)
I could not remember which tree it was, and did not claim for it, as excess was SGD 600.00, and learnt about the 6 month maintenance thing from a friend a couple of weeks after.

To keep you up to date: I just got a reply from LTA stating the issue comes under the umbrella of the National Parks Boards, which I half suspected, and that the LTA already informed them and that I should then get a reply from them directly.

So.....wait and see on that one.

I've not washed the car or done anything with it yet just in case i can get somebody to have a look at it for inspection.

'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

We refer to your email dated 6 January 2011 as forwarded by LTA and are sorry to learn of the damage to your vehicle.

2 In order for us to look into the matter, we have to identify the tree
alleged to have caused the damage to your vehicle. It is presently unclear from your description which tree you are referring to. In this regard, we will require you to identify the tree that allegedly caused damage to your vehicle by way of a detailed site sketch of the location identifying the tree in question with reference to nearby lampposts, buildings, footpaths or other distinguishing landmarks and/or photographs of the location and tree in question.

3. If you would like to make a claim, you will need to substantiate your
claim with all the relevant supporting documents such as repair invoices, receipts and photographs of the damage for our consideration.

Thank you.

Opinion..... Am I wasting time and possibly money without guarantee of a return to fix the damage? I would have to submit a claim to NPB so they could then forward to their insurance company who may or may not approve the claim. I can't identify the EXACT tree and i would be guessing to get it within a selection of half a dozen.

'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

Juz to share my personal experience with you. 2 years back, I had a similar incident. Was driving my wife car to a nearby coffee shop for lunch as my car went for regular servicing. Nevertheless, to cut the story short, it was raining and my car was parked at a ura parking lot. After lunch to my horror, a couple of branches hit my bonnet and roof of my wife car. Nightmare starts. I send the honda jazz to kah motor for repair as it is barely a year old (do not want to void the warranty period). Firstly KAH motor do not do 3rd party claim and wanted me to pay or do 1st party claim. Next I wrote to URA and they kick the ball to NPB. NPB replied and say it is act of GOD. There is nothing much they can do as it was raining heavily. I told them off (and cc to URA) that are they saying that on raining days we cant park under the trees in the parking lot? They didnt answer the question directly but replied that I should claim under my own insurance. I refused. Got a lawyer classmate of mine to mail them and URA pushed the ball to NPB stating that they are not liable as they only "lease" car park lots to me and it is govt rules to plant trees and asked me to follow up with NPB. NPB replied again, its act of GOD. My lawyer then "threatened" to sue them. With the photos given earlier and the wanting to sue them, NPB asked us to write to their contractors. The contractors replied that they have no contractual rights with me as they are the contractors for NPB and not us and therefore could not entertained me. My lawyer wrote to them and cc to URA and NPB stating it was their negligent that they didnt pune the trees which caused the accident and resulting my car was damaged by the trees. Then they replied its act of GOD. Nothing much they can do but to claim from own insurance or pay yourself. I was furious. My lawyer wrote back that they did not pune the trees regularly and thus it was their fault and seek compensation. In the meantime, wife car was struck in KAH motors for weeks. Finally after a month plus (almost 2 months), they agreed to pay after I proved I was right (they didnt pune the trees) and it was not act of GOD and I have paid my parking for the lot. I need to get the quotes first and send to them first. Got the quotes and finally they agreed to pay. Total 2 1/2 months I finally do my wife car repair. Its a hassle, but no choice. Unless you r prepared to pay on your own or claim your own insurance, you got to write n write and threatened to sue and even threatened to put on papers and only till then, they are then prepared to pay. Question raised here, are you prepared to wait or if not u got to pay on your own le...

ScoobyDoes wrote:National Parks were reasonably quick:

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dear Mr. Scooby,

We refer to your email dated 6 January 2011 as forwarded by LTA and are sorry to learn of the damage to your vehicle.

2 In order for us to look into the matter, we have to identify the treealleged to have caused the damage to your vehicle. It is presently unclear from your description which tree you are referring to. In this regard, we will require you to identify the tree that allegedly caused damage to your vehicle by way of a detailed site sketch of the location identifying the tree in question with reference to nearby lampposts, buildings, footpaths or other distinguishing landmarks and/or photographs of the location and tree in question.

3. If you would like to make a claim, you will need to substantiate yourclaim with all the relevant supporting documents such as repair invoices, receipts and photographs of the damage for our consideration.

Thank you.

Opinion..... Am I wasting time and possibly money without guarantee of a return to fix the damage? I would have to submit a claim to NPB so they could then forward to their insurance company who may or may not approve the claim. I can't identify the EXACT tree and i would be guessing to get it within a selection of half a dozen.

Wouldn't put it past them. They took down all the magnificent trees that ringed our condo (see pic). All - everything, big and small - you see there went, and similar right around the whole substantial block.